our own groundhog days
Sometimes I feel like a cog in a machine, but who doesn't, really? Part of life is repetition and even drudgery. And believe it or not, I am not complaining about it. I believe the philosophical statement made by John Burroughs when he said, To learn something new, take the path you took yesterday.Up at 6:30 am for private reading time
Kids upstairs for breakfast/ family prayer and scriptures @ 7
A and L out the door by 7:30
I jump in the shower as they head out
While I get dressed I call out to FG to make sure he is getting his cello practice in @ 7:40
Geo jumps in the shower @ 7:45
By 7:50 I am drying my hair and following up with FG to make sure he is getting ready to go
Geo is dressed quickly and out by 8
I kiss FG goodbye and leave for work down the street @ 8:10
Pretty much the same routine everyday, with the only real variety in the afternoon, which has its own kind of crazy. But guess what? When I sit back and look at my life, I somehow am grateful for the over-and-overness of it all. I learn about myself and my strengths AND weaknesses. It keeps me real.
Doctrine and Covenants 64:33
Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
Amen
12 comments
Well, I guess I need to concentrate more on that scripture, as truly, some days ---are--so--boring--over--and--over!!
How ironic that you post this message! Friday, when I got up, I thought, "I'm doing the same thing, over and over." Thanks for the reminder that great things can happen.
You know, I am not good with consistency. And I am so much happier when I am. It really is a great thing. You inspire me to be better!
That's one of my favorite scriptures. I had never heard that John Burroughs quote before, but I LOVE it!
When I'm feeling bogged down in the mundane details of my life, I have to remind myself that ever since Adam and Eve left the garden, we are supposed to survive by the sweat of our brow. It's just the way it's supposed to be. I not really sure why, but I find that a comfort.
Wendy- the worst is when you get older and you start to feel the clock more. Young kids have no sense of time passing.
ConnieJean- I know what you mean!
Lara- There really is a lot to say about routine.
Luann- I like your "sweat of our brow" comment. So true!
What a great way to look at it. So...amen.
:-) Love Your cool twist on things, Kaz. Thanks for the things that You share! There is so much truth in that scripture-and it helps me keep on an even keel. :-) Great words to the wise!
I have a great fondess for routine. I think the utter familiarity of it gives you time to think about other things b/c you don't really have to think about what you're actually doing--you do it all by rote. It also helps you get through the day when things are hard.
I often have the phrase "be not weary in well-doing" going through my guilt ridden mind and I always think about the joy I should betaking in service etc... but I forgot about the rest of the verse, I really needed to read that today. Thanks. When we started daily family scripture study a few years ago when our oldest was 4, I often thought, "what are we really getting out of this?" but I wanted to fulfill President Hinckly's challenge, and came to the conclusion that we were laying down a pattern for our life that over the long run was really going to change our course even if we weren't spiritually uplifted everyday by the verses we were trying to get through.
This is so true, probably for most people, but it sometimes really does feel like drudgery when I'm washing the same (sometimes "freakin'") dishes I washed after the last meal and the same clothes I washed a few days ago. (this is especially true if you're like us and you have only one set of each dish and utensil and only enough clothes for about a week's worth of outfits -- by which I don't mean to imply that we're poor, I just can't justify buying more stuff than we need right now, and I don't have room in my kitchen for dirty dishes to stack up, and they would!)
Still, there's something nice about putting everything in its place. . .again. And again. Sort of relaxing and nice.
I love this. And the Burroughs quote. And the allusion to Groundhog Day, which is a revelation in and of itself. I long to find more joy in the mundane. And ANY consistency in our routine.
I call it groundhog day too. SO funny that we basically wrote the same post. I don't know how I missed yours, since I read all of those around it. It happens.
I love that you said it helps you learn about your strengths and weaknesses. I was only focusing on learning about my weaknesses. I totally forget to focus on my strengths and that really helps nothing.
Good stuff.
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